"Embry," Jaq murmured. "Could you go change? I want to be able to hear you."
Embry nodded and trotted off to the bushes followed by the other pack members.
Prudence went into her tiny bag and pulled out a pair of long men's shorts. She offered them to Drake who took them in his mouth and ran off to change.
Those left stood awkwardly not knowing what to say. Eventually the wolves returned as humans. Embry came straight over to Jaq and pulled her against his chest.
"I'm so glad you're okay." He mumbled into her hair. "I'm so glad this is over."
She didn't answer, deciding instead to hug him tighter. Finally they broke apart and Jaq remembered the other two…
Prudence and Drake were awkwardly out of the crowd of hugging vampires and werewolves. They stood very close to each other and looked like they wanted to run off.
Jaq took a deep breath and walked towards them, Embry following, her hand still in his.
"Prudence…"
"Jaq."
They stood awkwardly looking at each other for a minute. No one knew what to say. Finally Jacob walked over and held his hand out to Drake.
"Hey I'm Jacob."
"Hi…" Drake shook his hand nervously.
"Do you think we could talk to you for a few minutes?" Sam asked. He had followed Jacob over and was looking at Drake curiously. "Just to talk."
Drake looked at Prudence uncertainly.
"It's okay," She smiled at him. "I'll stay with these two 'til you come back."
He hesitated for a moment then nodded and walked off with the two Alphas, presumably to talk about his history and how he was a wolf.
"So err…" Jaq said. "How'd you meet him?" She nodded to the figure of Drake walking in the distance.
"We found him unconscious in a dump in Berlin. I persuaded Delano to let him stay with us, saying he was added strength."
"Is he the reason you changed your mind?"
"Mostly, but it's been coming for a while now." Prudence nodded. "What about you and…?" She gestured to Embry.
"This is Embry. I met him at the Cullens'. They're the vampire family here." She gestured to the Cullens.
"They have golden eyes like you." She said curiously. "Vegetarians too?"
"Yeah."
"So weird…"
Jaq chose to ignore that comment.
"Well…" She began hesitantly. She had no idea what to say…
Luckily at that point Drake, Sam and Jacob returned allowing the awkward conversation to come to an end.
Carlisle chose that moment to walk over then.
"Prudence, Drake," He smiled. "We cannot thank you enough."
"That's err… okay…" The rest of the sentence was left unsaid. They knew she hadn't done it for them…
Drake took Prudence's hand and squeezed it.
"Pru can we…?" He said quietly. She nodded and looked up at Jaq.
"We're just going to… go if that's okay…"
"Sure…" Jaq smiled stiffly. "I'm sure you'd be welcome to stay for a few days at the very least if you wanted."
"No it's okay… we… err just want to get out of here…"
"Alright then."
They both gave a short nod and quickly left the clearing together avoiding the droppings left by Dante's animals.
"You know he imprinted on her right?" Embry murmured as they watched the couple walk away.
"I know." Jaq nodded. "I could tell by their auras. They both had a pale orange by their right ear."
"Do you think they know?"
"'Spect that's the sort of thing Sam and Jacob were talking to him about."
That and where he'd come from, how he could possibly be a wolf.
"True. Guess it wouldn't make a difference if they didn't mention it to them. They'd still feel the same."
"Yeah," Jaw frowned. "The thing I don't quite understand is… well she's not vegetarian…"
"And…?" Embry asked making a face.
"Well killing humans is against everything you werewolves are for, but it doesn't seem to bother him…"
"Well that's what imprinting does to you Jaq." Embry laughed. "As much as it goes against my nature to say this, if you weren't vegetarian… well I don't think it'd make me think twice about you at all. Even though it is gross."
Jaq smiled and gave him a hug.
"E-Embry." Nathan said hesitantly from behind them. It was strange to see such a strong willed character so nervous. "Can I speak to you for a moment?"
"Sure?" Embry said confused. Jaq smiled. She knew what was coming. She could tell by the look on his face and the guilt in his aura.
"I… I realise… I haven't been entirely fair to you…" Nathan bit his lip. "Jaq was right, I was just prejudiced. I should've just trusted her judgement – she is usually right after all." Jaq coughed. "Oh okay then more than usually." She laughed.
"It's err... its okay Nathan really." Embry stuttered.
"I… apologise for the way I acted. It was uncalled for." He held out his right hand and Embry shook it with a smile.
"It's okay seriously. You just wanted to protect her. I can defiantly understand that."
Nathan smiled. "Yes, I think you do."
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Emmett chanted. Rosalie smacked him around the head. "Oww."
"Don't be so childish."
"By the way, Nathan." Embry said as they began to walk back to the Cullens' house. "That shaking the hand thing…well… It's a bit old fashioned."
"Old fashioned?"
"Told you Nathan!" Jaq grinned. "Haven't I always said you were old fashioned?"
"So what do you do instead?"
"Well, you do this." Embry said as he dumped a whole load of the animal droppings all over him.
"Hey!"
Embry laughed and ran away. Instead of chasing him, Nathan turned to Jaq who was giggling next to him. "Well you seem to have the same sort of sense of humour."
"Oh that was just his subtle way of leaving us alone."
"Subtle eh?"
"Believe it or not."
There was an awkward silence.
"So…" Jaq began.
"Jaq," Nathan gushed. "I'm sorry I was an idiot. Seriously… I can see what you meant now. There's nothing wrong with Embry, nothing at all. It was all about my prejudices nothing to do with keeping you safe like I told myself. I just wanted you safe. I love you like you were my little sister and I don't know what I'd have done if something had happened you today… especially as we weren't on speaking terms. All that happened was that we got into our first fight. I don't want to fight with you. What if something had happened to you today and we were still..."
"Breathe Nathan." Jaq laughed.
"It's true though."
"Well I forgive you."
"Really? That quickly?"
"Yeah, let's think of it as a… sibling argument…"
"Sibling…" Nathan smiled. "I could get used to that."
Jaq laughed. "You sap."
"Well, I say we go back over to my future brother-in-law and go collect our baby brother."
Jaq laughed again and they made their way back over to Embry.
"Hey Nathan," He grinned. "You got a little something there…" He pointed to where the droppings had stained his top.
"Yeah, you'd better be prepared mutt." Nathan said with mock-threat, no touch of offence intended. "I'll get you back for that."
"I'm shaking in my boots."
"You're not even wearing shoes Em…" Jaq said quietly.
"Fine, my cut-off jeans then."
"Want to go get Connor?" Nathan asked and Jaq nodded enthusiastically. Finally she'd be able to look at him and know he was safe.
"Anyone who wants to come over can." Sam grinned. "Emily said she'd make cookies for everyone." The wolves all cheered and ran in the direction of La Push. "Everyone." He stressed and looked at the Cullens who smiled. He stopped and looked at Leah. "Leah… you… you can come too… if you want…"
She froze. "I…" She said after a moment. "I'd like that."
Jaq smiled at them and turned to Embry. "Come on let's go get Connor."
N'awww everyone's friends again :) Sorry for such a long wait... I've had so much work :( stupid A-levels...
And yeah, I know what you're thinking... Prudence... you don't like her.. she doesn't like the Cullens... Well I thought it'd be fun if she stays a moody-cow... she always thought Jaq and Nathan's veggie thing was weird, so she's not going to change her mind just because she left Delano.... anyway personally i think she rocks. She's one of my fave characters xD haha...
Right well after this there is one more chapter and an epilogue... I'll probably post the next chapter tommorrow... I need to make a few changes first. Then a few day later I'll put the Epilogue up and that'll be the end... sniff... I don't want it to end...
Well thanks to..... elleminnowpee, Mrs Ali, takethis2urgrave, MyGhost31, sullyy, Kats and Twilight, Terra-Cullen, Sammiebaby703, werewolfwithaheart, JoeBob1379, a-lil-angel (another person I've actually met in person!), hybrid, salma-cullen, and anyone I've missed for the awesome comments/faves/alerts .... i love you all :)
Also a hi to my awesome friend stonecoldheart27 who i'm seeing in exactly.....*works it out*.... 3 hours and 47 minutes!! woop!! Also check out her stories... they're awethum :) (And I'm in one woop)
Loves ~
PepperX